Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2017 i American Farmhouse Style

GROWING UP, MY FAVORITE SEASON WAS SUMMER. I didn’t have to go to school and could spend all day playing outside. Some of my best childhood memories come from those long summer days—from backyard barbeques and days at the beach to crafts filled with glitter and homemade lemonade stands. As a farmhouse homeowner, you know that the farmhouse lifestyle isn’t just about the patterns on your pillows or the kind of siding on your walls (though these are fun too). It’s about creating a space that will cultivate precious memories with your kids and grandkids, friends and family. You want your farmhouse to be a sanctuary that’s welcoming and inviting, where the neighborhood kids will want to gather to play, and you’ll be excited to invite friends over for lunch…

AS CEO OF THE LAST FLATWARE MANUFACTURER IN AMERICA, Greg Owens knows how important it is to work hard and create a product that lasts. Located in Sherrill, New York, Sherrill Manufacturing produces beautiful flatware for its own brand, Liberty Tabletop. Greg’s pride in their American product is clear. “We are one of the few companies that can say 100% of our product is made in the USA,” Greg says. “Our steel is melted and processed here; the buffing pads and compounds are made here in New York. We use local accounting and law firms, and we eat lunch at the local restaurants.” Impacting the local economy is incredibly important to Liberty Tabletop, as well as the national economy. “100% of the purchase price stays in the United States,” Greg…

Acrylic. These tubs are made with acrylic sheets wrapped around a vacuum mold. They’re lightweight, easy to care for and one of the most popular options. However, the surface may crack and discolor over time. Average Cost: $600–$1,700 Enameled Steel. These tubs are steel, covered with enameled porcelain. They’re easy to care for and resistant to chips and scratches. However, they’re also heavy with limited color options. Average Cost: $900–$3,000 Cast Iron. This is the best material for retaining heat, is long lasting and will resist chips and scratches. However, it’s also heavy—make sure your floor can support 2,000 pounds. Average Cost: $1,000–$2,500 Copper. If you’re looking to make a grand statement, copper is your ticket. You’ll pay a higher price for the material, though, and copper is heavy and…

What does it mean to live small? Even if you don’t want to permanently live in a tiny home, having a way to travel or relax outside your house is a fun twist. You know about Airstreams and campers, but have you considered a shepherd’s hut? Plankbridge, a British company, is making headway in the United States with a line of shepherd’s huts that are a great addition to any home or farmhouse. Here’s how big opportunities can come in small packages. HUT HISTORY These huts have a rich history that dates back to the 15th century. Shepherds traditionally used these spaces while raising sheep in the uplands of the United Kingdom and Europe. “Portable shelters for shepherds have been around for hundreds of years,” says Amy Brice, co-owner of…

COUNTERS. Whether you need space for food or toiletries, the kitchen and bathroom need counters. When remodeling these two rooms together, you can pair your counters to create a cohesive and refreshing feel in your home. CABINETS. Not only are counters shared in these spaces, but cabinets too. Similar hardware or paint can redo these rooms and create a connected home. Find that common ground to prime the kitchen and bath for the perfect remodel. SINKS. Installing new sinks in your bath and kitchen will refresh not only those rooms but your home as well. Whether you want the classic white or modern black, swapping out your sinks in these rooms for newer ones will transform these spaces.…

1. SEARCH OFTEN. Kirsten’s home makes Craigslist seem like a good shopping option. Then you search it yourself and find nothing good. But if you want to find the perfect piece, you have to be vigilant. “The good stuff goes fast,” Kirsten says. 2. BE SPECIFIC. The more specific your searches, the more you’ll maximize your search time. “Put in your max amount on what you can spend,” Kirsten says. “You can also put in search words like ‘pottery barn’ and ‘world market’ and get a different class of furniture.” 3. BE PATIENT. “Anything you want is out there, it’s just a matter of time,” Kirsten says. Keep looking, and don’t get impatient when you don’t find the perfect piece right away. “I think if you look long enough, you’ll…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • 1 2x4 wood plank, the height of your desired tower (optional) • 4–6 floating shelf brackets • Books (60–100 for a floor-to-ceiling tower) WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Attach the plank to the wall. While this step isn’t absolutely necessary, it’s a good idea to screw a plank into the wall behind your tower to help act as a brace for the books. 2. Add floating shelves. Attach the brackets to the wood plank at even intervals. “I have hidden brackets every 15 books or so,” says Erin. This will keep your books in place and ensure that you can take a book from the shelf without the whole tower falling over. 3. Stack away. You can stack the books in any form that suits your décor.…

Clothes. Continue to comb through your clothes and hand them down. A smaller wardrobe can eliminate the need for additional closet space or dressers, which add bulk to a room. Shelves. Keep walls and shelves clean and organized. This reduces visual chaos that Lyla vows improves everything from mood to focus, especially when it comes to kids and schoolwork. Food. Buy your groceries every couple of days. “I don’t do shopping for a long period of time,” Lyla says. This keeps the food fresh and the counters clean. Consider. Shop carefully and consider every item that comes inside your home. For Lyla, selecting furniture is a careful process. Most pieces come from trusted local retailers or are special mementos from traveling, be it a kitchen table from Mexico or a…

When settlers came to the New World in the 17th and 18th centuries, they built homes that usually had a similar layout. Imagine you’re standing on the curb, looking at the front of the house. If the front wall were to pull away like a dollhouse, this is what you’d see: The staircase. The front door is located in the middle of the house, and when you walk in, you’ll be greeted by a staircase right away. This stairwell divides the right and left sides of the home, both on the first and second floors. The hall. Located on the bottom left of the home, the hall is the main living area. “The hall is where everyone hangs out, the wife would cook and the family would spend time,” Mathew…

It takes an incredible amount of passion to lovingly rescue an old house. Historic homeowners and renovators Andy and Candis Meredith express their passion in their new book Old Home Love, a celebration of the character and personality, history and charm that makes old homes special. The couple shares a collection of stories from homes they have put their heart and soul into renovating, so new generations can continue making history within them. LOVING HOMES The drive needed for restoration was easy to find for the Meredith family. They bought their first historic home, from 1859, in Utah and turned it into a family home to fill with memories. “We love what we do and have a true passion for preserving homes and buildings for the next generation,” Andy says.…

LASTING IMPACT PAGE 10 For more on Liberty Tabletop, visit libertytabletop.com. Susanna, starting at $69.95. Weave, starting at $129.95. MIXOLOGY PAGE 16 For more on Black Dog Salvage Paint, visit woodcraft.com. PASTORAL LIVING PAGE 18 For more on Plankbridge, visit plankbridge.com. AIRSTREAM DREAM PAGE 28 For more on The Local Branch, visit thelocalbranch.co. FARMHOUSE FACELIFT PAGE 32 For more on Stephanie, visit theworkingkitchenltd.com. Builder: Red Point Builders, (607) 547-1010 or redpointny.com. Counter stools and kitchen pendant lighting: Pottery Barn, (888) 779-5176 or potterybarn.com. Kitchen faucet: Whitehaus, (800) 527-6690 or whitehauscollection.com. Kitchen knobs: Top Knobs, (800) 499-9095 or topknobs.com. Kitchen sink: Rohl, (800) 777-9762 or rohlhome.com. A FAMILY AFFAIR PAGE 62 Bedroom linen pillows: Porter Lane Home, Visit etsy.com/ shop/PorterLaneHome. Entry way Everett table: World Market, (877) 967-5362 or worldmarket.com. Front…

THE GREAT OUTDOORS CALLS TO ALL AGES, and decorating your ideal garden or outdoor entertainment area has just gotten easier. In her new book, Hand-Built Outdoor Furniture, Katie Jackson shares easy DIY projects for your outdoor space. With a few basic tools and a free weekend, you can build a beautiful piece of furniture out of wood for your backyard. Katie shares homemade tables, benches and even a hanging tree swing, perfect for children and adults alike. “A child who grows up with a tree swing will forever have memories of their favorite tree,” Katie writes. Take a look at this garden swing that will give even DIY beginners the confidence to build outdoor furniture. “A child who grows up with a tree swing will forever have memories of their…

Mixing paint is simple, right? You just add colors and voila! You get the shade you want. But it’s more complicated than that. Have you ever bought an accessory, thinking the color will match another item in your home, only to find that the shades don’t work together? Apply that concept to paint and you have a potential disaster waiting to happen. Luckily, there are ways to circumvent the problem. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for the perfect mix. THE RIGHT PAINT Just because you mix blue and red doesn’t mean you’ll get the right shade of purple. “There are so many different pigments used by your usual hardware and big box DIY stores,” says Susan Hudson of Black Dog Salvage Paints. “Those pigments can alter the final result.”…

Airstream trailers have been around for years and have a look that is iconic to American recreational vehicles; so what are the benefits of a trailer or a hut? Here’s a breakdown. Space: Airstream trailers range from 24–37 feet in length, while shepherd’s huts tend to be 12–16 feet. However, huts can be built in larger sizes, called living huts. The smaller sizes are better for backyard use and will fit in your backyard rather than take it over. Material: Airstream trailers are covered in iconic aluminium bodies, and shepherd’s huts are made with corrugated iron cladding. “Any portable small space concept fulfils a similar role, and while both are on wheels, the traditional shepherd’s hut is on iron wheels and therefore suitable for towing within the property,” says Amy.…

How do you turn a run-of-the-mill tract house into a cozy farmhouse-style home you can truly love? This is the dilemma blogger Kirsten Yanasak of Bright Yellow Door faced in 2009 when she and her husband Adam moved into their 1,500 square foot home in Seattle. “At the time, I was eight months pregnant, and the market was tough,” Kirsten says. “So, we thought we’d just get in there and maybe we could do something with it.” Eight years later, there’s hardly a trace of the bland 1990s structure they moved into—instead, their home has become a testament to the hard work and creativity so central to farmhouse style. “ Almost every single piece in this house is thrifted from Craigslist.” WATCH AND WAIT Kirsten’s bachelor’s degree in art and…

“We wanted to create a beautiful BBQ dinner that felt relaxed, but elegant.” What do wedding photographers do in their downtime? Go on farmhouse retreats, of course. Christina McNeill of the wedding blog Snippet & Ink, along with several other photographers, organized a Rendezvous Retreat in Keswick, Virginia. “The intention was to create an invite-only, inspirational women’s retreat for established female wedding photographers from around the country,” Christina says. Here are a few of the details, and tips on how you can plan a farmhouse barbeque of your own. COME UP WITH A THEME Whether you’re planning a family reunion, birthday party or any other celebration, you’ll want to tie the whole event together with a common thread. Christina calls this process the inspiration board. “Inspiration boards have been a…

A. INVERTED CENTERPIECE 1. For a fun twist on the usual floral centerpiece, invert a few vases and place an item inside, like a cloche. 2. For this centerpiece, we used a galvanized metal bucket, a glass vase and a cactus planted inside an old rusty food can. B. TABLETOP S’MORES 1. Fill a galvanized metal trough or flower box with several cans of chafing dish fuel and cover the cans with layers of chicken wire to protect them. 2. Pour in pebbles, marbles or black stones onto the top, then light the chafing fuel underneath and enjoy cooking s’mores. C. WHISK LANTERNS 1. Hang mixing whisks from the branches of trees, or string them on a length of twine across your backyard or patio. Make sure you get whisks…

Clawfoot. The clawfoot tub is the most iconic freestanding bathtub. Four feet raise the basin into the air and add elegance to the piece. The feet can be simple design elements or literal feet carvings—from lion paws to dragon claws. Pedestal. A pedestal bathtub is any tub that is raised on a pedestal platform, rather than the basin sitting against the ground. The pedestal adds an extra element of decoration to the piece and can make it look more high end. Soaking. A soaking tub is longer than a regular tub and is meant for long, luxurious soaks. As such, it will take up more room, but is ideal if you like to get into the tub to read a book or watch a TV show. Slipper. A slipper tub…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Chair or other furniture piece • Primary paint color (we used Black Dog Salvage, Roanoke Rain) • Secondary paint color (we used Black Dog Salvage, Clean Canvas) • Measuring cups • Disposable cups or bowls • Permanent marker • Paint or coffee stir sticks • Brush • Painter’s tape COLOR #1 CHAIR LEGS Original blue (Roanoke Rain only) COLOR #2 CHAIR BACK 1 part blue to 3 parts white (Roanoke Rain and Clean Canvas) COLOR #3 CHAIR SEAT 1 part blue to 7 parts white (Roanoke Rain and Clean Canvas) WHAT YOU’LL DO: PREP. Get out several plastic bowls or cups. You’ll mix in parts (e.g., 1 part blue to 1 part white). To get a consistent unit, use a measuring cup (we used a ¼…

No one is happy with a cluttered home. Take a look at these unique ways to use little-known places that can help you maximize the space you have. Go Vertical Any blank wall can become an interesting storage place. You can build out with shelves, or if space is tight, open the wall to recess your storage and show off the wall beams. Whether you need more counter space or want to clear up your floors, try going vertical with your storage, so you have more room to move around. This recessed organization uses the wall’s columns as organizing separators to hang craft supplies and corral wrapping paper. What blank walls do you have in your home? Use them to hang office supplies, cookware or a custom shoe rack. Fireplace…

1. PLAN BEFORE YOU ACT. “Consider what you want to get out of it,” Stephanie says. “Think about what direction you want to take your home in.” Do your own research, and don’t rely on your designer for everything. It’s really helpful when you come in with your own ideas and style preferences to give the designer direction. 2. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL. “Hire good people and use a designer,” Stephanie says. It’ll be worth it to pay a little extra to get the help you need. Hiring a good designer and contractors will enhance your kitchen and bath remodel in a way that DIY just can’t do. “It isn’t too expensive and they have lots of experience,” she says. 3. GO CLASSIC. Think about your choices in style and ask…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Raw wood (Kirsten used pine) • Saw • Sand paper • Stain (Kirsten used walnut stain) • Staining pads and gloves • L brackets • Screw driver WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. CHOOSE YOUR WOOD. Kirsten bought several planks of pine at Lowe’s. When you pick out the wood, make sure the planks are straight and not warped in any way—after all, you want your shelves to be functional. 2. CUT AND SAND. Cut the wood to the right shelf size, then sand each piece (including the sides) until the pieces are roughened up. When you’re done sanding, wipe down the boards to get rid of any wood dust. 3. STAIN. Wear the gloves and use the staining pad to wipe stain onto the shelves in smooth,…

Be a Do-it-Yourselfer. Making and creating is not only a unique way to decorate your home, it’s incredibly simple to learn. “Having a do-it-yourself dad growing up inspired me to look at how things are made,” Erin says. “It gave me the curiosity and a resourcefulness to problem solve and do things myself.” Finding that drive is a great way to kick start your own DIY projects. Be Resourceful. Living frugally is something we all strive for, and making things is a great way to save on cost. “Use what you have,” Erin says. “In my home, the kitchen stools were all found in the barn. I didn’t mind that they didn’t match, because I’d rather use these than purchase bland matching chairs that have no family history.” Be Inspired.…

Furniture. Want a white sofa? Get a slipcover for it. Just make sure it’s machine washable so that you can remove it when soiled. This is what Lyla does, especially when “Nutella fingers” get to hers. Bedding. White bedding creates a clean backdrop for whatever else you want to do in the room. The bedding can always be accessorized with patterned pillows, creating a timeless look that won’t feel like it needs to be updated frequently. Paint. White paint is Lyla’s most important tool to add space and light. For her home, Benjamin Moore Simply White is an instant refresh and keeps the focus on the lines of the home. “It’s about the space, not what’s in the space,” she says.…

Do your homework. Find out everything you can about the history of the house. Search records at the library and locate any documentation you have on previous owners of the home. “Go out to the local historic society,” Mathew says. Find out if they have any records, and then piece together the story of the property. Find the right architect. It’s important to work with an architect who specializes in historic preservation in your area. “Be careful of when a professional says ‘I do’ or ‘I’ve done’ old houses,” Mathew says. “Anybody can do something, but the question is, do they specialize in it?” You can ask them a few pointed questions to make sure they really know the time period. “What’s the difference between Federal style and Georgian style…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Picnic blanket or length of fabric • Old tablecloth or shower curtain liner • Sewing machine and thread WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. If you’re starting from scratch, decide how much fabric you need for your blanket. Most picnic blankets are either 60" square or 70" x 80." Cut out the fabric to your desired dimensions. 2. Lay out your picnic blanket on the ground, face up. Lay the lining material (your tablecloth or shower curtain liner) on top of it, with the face down (unless you don’t want the face showing; then you’d put it face up). 3. Pin the lining to the blanket and stitch all the way around, leaving a 5–6" gap in the seam. 4. Using the gap you left, turn the picnic…

1. EYES TO THE SKY. Opening a skylight is a simple way to introduce natural sunlight into your home. If you don’t have enough skylights, don’t hesitate to build more, especially if you’re cramped for space. 2. MAN VS. WILD. Floor-to-ceiling windows and screens can blur the lines between indoors and outdoors, while still protecting your home from pests. These rooms allow you to immerse your family in the surrounding nature, while also benefitting from the outside lighting. 3. PRIVATE PROPERTY. English architect David Sheppard makes use of crisscrossing glass channels in his home studio, which helps the windows provide both privacy, as well as abundant daylight. 4. KNOCK KNOCK. Though it may seem a bit drastic, knock down a wall or two to create one single great room. Combining…

The long history of design is inspirational when restoring an old house, but how do you keep historical elements without your home looking like a museum? Andy and Candis keep a great balance of old and new, and here are a few ideas on how to give old homes your own unique twist. A TIMELESS FEEL. Trends may look good now, but what about 30 years down the line? “Old homes are able to make a person feel like they are living in both the past and present, enjoying the best of both worlds,” the Merediths say. “Think ahead about how a feature you are adding will look ten or fifty years from now.” ATTENTION TO DETAIL. Adding personality doesn’t have to be overwhelming. “Homeowners today are sometimes a bit…